Checkpoint fail: Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan testifies. (ap)
The head of the Secret Service told lawmakers today that the agents who let Tareq and Michaele Salahi into last week’s White House state dinner are on administrative leave and could end up fired.
Mistakes were made, Sullivan said.
“We had established protocols. They weren’t followed. What we find is that if the protocols are followed, we won’t run into this type of a situation,” Sullivan told the House Homeland Security Committee. “Clearly, this protocol was not followed. A mistake was made — an error in judgment — and that allowed these two individuals, who should not have been allowed entry, into the White House.”
The committee had also hoped to hear from White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, but the administration said it will block any efforts to haul her up to the hill. Now there is talk of subpoenas. The Salahis also have been asked to testify before the committee, but they remain holed up in Virginia, complaining about how this incident – staged for reality TV — has ruined their lives.
UPDATE: President Obama told USA Today that he “could not have more confidence” in the Secret Service:
“They do an outstanding job. They have been with me since I was a candidate. I trust them 100%, not just with me but with my wife and my children.”
Obama, who was reportedly angry about the gatecrashing last week, said “the system didn’t work the way it was supposed to.”
